RHOPALOCERA OF CARLSBAD. 79 



We saw but one V. atalanta on July 10th. 



V. cardui was common during the whole of our stay, but 

 in very poor condition. 



Melitcea didyma was met with only once, and that in bad 

 condition, on the Marienbad road, July 12th. 



M. athalia was in great abundance everywhere between 

 June 27th and July 3rd. 



M. dictynna, a nearly allied species, which I think succeeds 

 M. athalia, occurred, but not in such profusion. We took a dark 

 form of the female. 



Argynnis selene was first taken on June 25th. On June 27th 

 it was a perfect pest in every open glade ; but after July 3rd we 

 seldom saw any but worn specimens. My brother took a curious 

 variety, which I believe is very uncommon, and may be roughly 

 described as follows:— On the upper side of the fore wings the 

 three basal spots form an irregular blotch of black ; next to this, 

 on the costal margin, is an oblique discoidal spot, then a row of 

 black spots crossing the wing, much greater in width than 

 height. The outer row of brown spots are retained on the hind 

 margin, but their black setting in some cases joins the row 

 I mentioned above. Hind wings black, with outer marginal row 

 of seven brown spots. On the under side the markings of the 

 fore wings nearly correspond with the upper side. The hind 

 wings are remarkable for their dusky ground, throwing out the 

 silver spots, which are altogether abnormal. The hind margin 

 has the usual brown spots. 



On July 10th and 12th we took five of that pretty little 

 insect, A. dia. The chief locality was a sheltered hollow, on the 

 right hand of the Marienbad road, where a white bedstraw, 

 or Galium, was in full bloom. I do not think anyone would pass 

 it unnoticed. The best plan is to stand on the hill-side above, 

 so as to be prepared to swoop clown on one's prey ; but if this 

 species is missed the first time, the chances are she will have the 

 best of it over broken ground. 



A. amathusia.—We took only one specimen, near St. Leon- 

 hardts, a female, on July 7th, which was rather a pretty variety. 



A. ino was hardly less abundant than A. selene, both of them 

 appearing at very nearly the same time. It was first seen on 

 June 29th. By July 3rd the flight was over, for we met only with 

 worn specimens. 



